2018 Louisiana Redistricting Participants

Jay Dardenne

Secretary of Administration, Keynote Speaker

Jay Dardenne was appointed Commissioner of the Division of Administration in January
2016 by Gov. John Bel Edwards. In this capacity, he serves as the state's chief administrative
officer.

Dardenne was elected twice as Louisiana's Lieutenant Governor, beginning in November
2010. He previously served four years as Secretary of State, 15 years as a State Senator
and three years as a Baton Rouge Metro Councilman. As Lieutenant Governor he headed
the Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. Louisiana's tourism numbers skyrocketed
after he took office, setting records each year, the first such increases since Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita struck in 2005.

During his legislative service he chaired the Senate Finance Committee and authorized
legislation granting motion picture tax credits, which paved the way for the film
and television industry to bring productions to the state. He also sponsored legislation
streamlining the Department of Economic Development, creating a comprehensive Board
of Ethics, establishing the Community and Technical College System and providing funding
for coastal erosion. In 2003, he was named National Republican Legislator of the Year.

He has hosted the Jerry Lewis Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association for
more than 30 years and conducts many special presentations about Louisiana, including
Why Louisiana Ain't Mississippi, a lively and colorful look at Louisiana's culture, history, music, literature and
politics.

He is an attorney and graduate of Baton Rouge High School, Louisiana State University's
Manship School of Mass Communication, and the LSU Law Center.

Marie Centanni

Emcee

Marie DesOrmeaux Centanni drew on her education, media experience, and love of politics
to create Centanni Communications. Since 2009, she has used practices she learned
through her experiences as a journalist, issue advocate, and public affairs practitioner
to help clients reach significant goals through her use of targeted messaging and
legislative strategy. An award-winning journalist, Centanni worked as a reporter and
anchor at KLFY in Lafayette and as Capitol Correspondent for WAFB in Baton Rouge.
She served as Communications Director for Arkansas Congressman Mike Ross and for LA
Governor Kathleen Blanco. Since 2012, she has helped the Council for a Better Louisiana
facilitate its state-wide Leadership Louisiana program, of which she is a graduate.

Centanni holds a B.AA in Mass Communication from The University of Louisiana at Lafayette
and a Master’s Degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University’s Graduate
School of Political Management in Washington, D.C. She is a board member and founder
of the Acadiana Press Club and serves on the board of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited.

Robert Travis Scott

Presenter, Redistricting in Louisiana

Robert Travis Scott became President of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana
in January 2011. He has 30 years of experience dealing with public policy issues as
a journalist, researcher, commentator, analyst and nonprofit manager. His work has
received national and regional recognition through numerous awards for investigative
reporting projects, business coverage and writing.

Prior to joining PAR, Scott served for eight years as the Capital Bureau Chief for
The Times-Picayune, during which time he contributed stories and videos to its associated
website, Nola.com. He previously served as Editor of the prize-winning Money section
for the Picayune and as a Business Editor and Columnist for The Greenville News in
South Carolina. In the 1980s, he was an Associate Director and Editor for a bipartisan,
nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., dealing with nuclear arms control. He
has lived in Italy and Guatemala.

Scott is an honors graduate of the University of South Carolina’s Department of Government
and International Studies, where he was named outstanding senior. He has a certificate
in international studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies,
Bologna Center in Italy.

Beth Courtney

Moderator, Louisiana's Redistricting History

Beth Courtney is the former Executive Producer and current President and CEO of Louisiana
Public Broadcasting (LPB). Serving as the leader of the statewide public media enterprise
since 1985, LPB is Louisiana’s educational technology resource center and supplies
cultural and educational programming for public television nationwide. Throughout
her tenure at LPB, the station has produced a number of award-winning documentaries
including the six-part series Louisiana: A History and Louisiana Public Square. The
series is a much-honored monthly public affairs program, which Courtney helped create
and cohosts, allowing citizens to voice their opinions and questions about important
issues facing the state.

Courtney is former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting (CPB), which provides funding for America’s public television and radio
stations. Courtney is Past Chair of the Association of Public Television Stations
board and former Vice-Chair of the Board of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
She has chaired numerous PBS task forces and currently serves on the Board of the
Organization of State Broadcasting Executives, and the National Educational Telecommunications
Association.

Courtney holds a BS in History & Speech. She also earned an MA in European History
and Government from Louisiana State University and an Honorary Doctorate from Southeastern
Louisiana University. Additionally, she completed the University of California, Berkeley’s
course in public broadcasting management. She serves as a board member of the Public
Affairs Research Council of Louisiana and of the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center.

Senator Norby Chabert

Panelist, Louisiana's Redistricting History

Senator Norby Chabert was born and raised in Bayou Petite Caillou. He attended Upper
Little Caillou Elementary, Lacache Middle and graduated from South Terrebonne High
School in 1994. In 2001, he received his B.A. in Government from Nicholls State University.
After college, Senator Chabert began a successful government relations career. Over
the years, he has served as an aide and advisor to both republican and democratic
federal, state and local officials across the state. In 2006, he formed Chabert Development,
LLC, a Chauvin-based land company. Senator Chabert is an active member of the community,
serving in the Houma Rotary Club, The Krewe of Hercules, the Krewe of Terranians,
Knights of Columbus Council 5013, The Maple Street Park Association. He also serves
as a board member for the Nicholls Colonels Athletic Foundation, The Friends of S.T.H.S.,
and the Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center Foundation.

Senator Neil Riser

Panelist, Louisiana's Redistricting History

Senator Neil Riser is the president and owner of the Riser Funeral Homes located in
Caldwell and LaSalle parishes. He serves as a board member of the Caldwell Bank and
Trust Company. He is also the Past President of the Pelican State Life Insurance Company.
Senator Riser has a strong background in the timber industry and has worked in logging
and timber since the age of 14. After graduating from Caldwell Parish High School
in 1980, Senator Riser obtained a B.A. in Business Management from Northeast Louisiana
University in 1984.

Representative Pat Smith

Panelist, Louisiana's Redistricting History

Rep. Patricia Haynes Smith is a native of Baton Rouge, and is well known throughout
Louisiana for her tireless effort to champion causes she believes in. Rep. Smith is
currently serving her third term in the Louisiana House of Representatives and was
recently re-elected without opposition. In the legislature, Rep. Smith has served
two consecutive terms as chair of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus. She serves
on the Appropriations, Education, Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and Municipal,
Parochial and Cultural Affairs committees of the legislature. She is also appointed
to the Select Leadership Committee and serves as Vice Chair of the House Executive
Committee.

Rep. Smith has been a force for improving education in public schools in East Baton
Rouge Parish and the state. She is a former, two-term president of the EBR School
Board. Rep. Smith has received various awards, including the first Martin Luther King
Distinguished Leadership Award in Politics; the “Fannie Lou Hamer Political Award”
from Grambling University; the NOBEL (National Organization of Black Elected Legislative)
award; and was named a Woman of the Year in 2014. In 2017, Rep. Smith was elected
1st Vice President of NOBEL Women during the organization’s 2017 Annual Legislative
Conference.

Former Senator Ed Murray

Panelist, Louisiana's Redistricting History

Former Senator Ed Murray served in the Louisiana State Senate, District 4, where he
represented Orleans Parish from 2005-2016. A native and lifelong resident of New Orleans,
Murray graduated from John F. Kennedy High School and then studied at Loyola University,
where he earned a B.A. in Political Science in 1982 and a J.D. in 1985. From 1992
to 2004, Murray served in the Louisiana House of Representative and represented the
citizens of District 96 in Orleans Parish.

Murray is a Fellow of the Loyola University Institute of Politics. He is Partner in
the general practice law firm of Murray, Darnell & Associates. Murray is also a member
of the African-American National Bar Association, the American Association for Justice,
and the National Black Council of State Legislators.

Michael Li

Panelist, National Trends in Redistricting

Michael Li serves as Senior Counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program, where
his work focuses on redistricting, voting rights, and elections. Prior to joining
the Brennan Center, Li practiced law at Baker Botts L.L.P. in Dallas for ten years
and is the author of a widely cited blog on redistricting and election law issues
that The New York Times called “indispensable.” He is a regular writer and commentator
on election law issues, appearing on PBS Newshour, MSNBC, and NPR, and in print in
The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Roll Call, Vox, National Journal,
Texas Tribune, Dallas Morning News, and San Antonio Express-News, among others.

In addition to his election law work, Li previously served as executive director of
Be One Texas, a donor alliance that oversaw strategic and targeted investments in
non-profit organizations working to increase voter participation and engagement in
historically disadvantaged African-American and Hispanic communities in Texas.

Li received his J.D., with honors, from Tulane Law School and his undergraduate degree
in history from the University of Texas at Austin.

Brian Marks, Ph.D.

Panelist, National Trends in Redistricting

Dr. Brian Marks is a Political and Economic Geographer whose research in the coastal
deltas of the Mekong and Mississippi rivers in Vietnam and the United States concerns
the livelihoods of seafood producers in the context of a globalizing seafood industry
and mounting environmental precarity in both deltas. A native of southern Terrebonne
Parish, Dr. Marks has broader interests in the cultural landscape of South Louisiana
and Southern Vietnam, the socio-economic effects of offshore oil and gas development,
the Gulf Coast’s connections in the Atlantic and Pacific Worlds, and urban political
economic regimes in New Orleans from Longite petro-populism to post-diluvian neoliberalism.
At LSU, he teaches a yearly course on Political Geography, which focuses on redistricting,
political demography, nationalism, and geopolitics.

Jonathan Winburn, Ph.D.

Panelist, National Trends in Redistricting

Jonathan Winburn is an Associate Professor and the Graduate Program Coordinator in
the Department of Political Science. He also directs the Social Science Research Lab
and Center for Research and Evaluation at the University of Mississippi. Dr. Winburn
specializes in state politics and policy, representation, and redistricting. He graduated
with his B.A. from Western Kentucky University before earning his Ph.D. from Indiana
University in 2005. He is author of two books, The Realities of Redistricting: Following the Rules and Limiting Gerrymandering in
State Legislative Redistricting and The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus: Race and Representation in the Pelican State (with Jas M. Sullivan) and numerous articles on topics ranging from congressional
redistricting to state anti-bullying policy.

Frederick Bell

Moderator, Voices of Louisiana's Future

Frederick Bell is a sophomore at Louisiana State University double majoring in mass
communication and political science in the Honors College. He is an active member
of the Baton Rouge community and was elected by his peers to serve in the LSU Student
Senate. Bell was also appointed by Mayor Sharon Weston Broome to serve on her Millennial
Agenda Committee. In addition to this, he was tapped by Dean of the Manship School
of Mass Communication to help formulate its strategic plan. Bell also works as a legislative
aide to Senator Gerald Boudreaux in the Louisiana State Senate and is a member of
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. where he serves as the International Second Vice President.
In his spare time, Bell enjoys reading and writing about politics and spending time
with those close to him.

Sarah Procopio

Moderator, Voices of Louisiana's Future

Sarah Procopio is a student at LSU majoring in mass communication with a concentration
in political communication. In addition to being an advocate for the Ogden Honors
College, she is a Louisiana Service and Leadership scholar and a member of Freshman
Leadership Council. In 2017 she was named East Baton Rouge Parish Student of the Year
and became one of two students selected to represent Louisiana as a Hearst Foundation
United States Senate Youth Program scholar. Following graduation, she plans to travel
internationally before going to law school.

Leah Sanders

Panelist, Voices of Louisiana's Future

Leah Sanders is a senior at Louisiana State University majoring in Petroleum Engineering
from. She serves as Student Body Vice President and is active in the Ogden Honors
College. Sanders has participated in the Louisiana Service and Leadership program
for two years. A native of Jackson, Tennessee, she is currently writing her senior
thesis on policies regarding oil and gas pipeline construction in the United States.

Otha "Tre" Curtis Nelson, III

Panelist, Voices of Louisiana's Future

Otha “Tre” Curtis Nelson III is a senior at the Louisiana Scholars’ College at Northwestern
State University. He holds various titles at Northwestern State including President
of the Student Government Association, 2017 Northwestern State, 2017 Greek Man of
the Year, 2016 Homecoming King, and many others. In addition to these campus roles,
Nelson is one of four college students working on the national board of directors
for Sigma Nu Fraternity and was one of two students nationally to sit on the board
of directors for the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee. His term
as President of the Student Government Association has been enriching because he has
had the ability to make extremely positive changes in the lives of the students at
Northwestern State. Nelson actively seeks to enhance the lives of those around him
and uses these different organizations to accomplish this goal. As he advances through
the professional workforce, Nelson plans to continue his efforts of bettering the
lives of those around him.

Adarian Williams

Panelist, Voices of Louisiana's Future

Adarian Williams is a native of Ruston, Louisiana. He is a third year Liberal Arts
and Theatre major matriculating at Grambling State University—the place “Where Everybody
is Somebody.” Williams is active on campus. He served as 2014-2015 SGA Freshman Class
President, 2015-2016 SGA Sophomore Class President, 2016-2017 SGA Chief of Staff and
a Student Ambassador. He is a member of the University Concert Choir, the NAACP, the
Floyd L. Sandle Players Club, the GSU Earl Lester Cole Honors College, and the National
Society of Leadership and Success. Williams is also a brother of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Fraternity of America, Inc. He currently serves as the 2017-2018 SGA President and
Student Member to the Louisiana Board of Regents. Williams aspires to become a professional
performer, lawyer, and political figure. Driven to acquire knowledge and experience
to succeed, following graduation, Williams plans to attend graduate school for performing
arts and law school.

Ben Storch

Panelist, Voices of Louisiana's Future

Ben Storch is a senior at Tulane University double-majoring in business management
and legal studies in business. Following graduation in May, he will be working as
a Business Development Associate for United Technologies Aerospace Systems.

Storch is originally from Minnesota, which is where he developed a foundation in politics.
From a young age he was passionate about political issues, and often participated
in political discussions starting in middle school. In high school Storch volunteered
for the Minnesota GOP, served as an election judge, and witnessed the recount of the
2008 Minnesota Senate race. He also worked as campaign staff for a Minnesota GOP gubernatorial
campaign where he was responsible for voter outreach and competed nationally in public
forum debate for four years.

In his free time, Ben enjoys boating, spending time in the woods, shooting, and playing
with his yellow lab Remi.

Mitch Rabalais

Panelist, Voices of Louisiana's Future

Mitch Rabalais is a native of St. Tammany Parish. He is a contributing writer to LaPolitics.com
and the Bayou Brief, and a former staffer to Gov. John Bel Edwards. Rabalais is currently
a candidate for a degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, where he is pursuing
a double major in history and political science.

Prior to his work for the governor, Rabalais spent time here at the Manship School,
where he extensively covered political news for LSU Student Media. Among other responsibilities,
he conducted in-depth interviews with current and former political figures and hosted
several forums on issues involving the state’s higher education system. He is perhaps
best known for moderating the final debate of the 2015 gubernatorial primary campaign.

In addition to being a diehard fan of the LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints, Rabalais
is an avid reader, fisherman, golfer, and collector of Louisiana political memorabilia.

Martin Johnson, Ph.D.

Moderator, The Politics of Redistricting

Martin Johnson is the Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. Chair in Political Communication and Professor
of Mass Communication and Political Science. He studies media, politics, public opinion,
political psychology, and public policy. His book, “Changing Minds or Changing Channels:
Partisan News in an Age of Choice” (2013, University of Chicago Press, with Kevin
Arceneaux), uses novel experiments to investigate how the choices viewers make shape
the influence of political media. It was co-winner of the 2014 Goldsmith Book Prize
awarded by the Harvard Kennedy School Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public
Policy. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the John
Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation, and Time-sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences.

He has published papers in the American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics,
Human Communication Research, British Journal of Political Science, Political Communication,
Political Psychology, and Political Analysis, among other scholarly venues. Before
joining the faculty at LSU, he served as department chair and professor at University
of California, Riverside, and directed the Media & Communication Research Lab there.
Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree from the Manship School and is a former editor
of The Daily Reveille. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from Rice
University.

Representative Julie Emerson

Panelist, The Politics of Redistricting

Rep. Julie Emerson was born and raised in Louisiana and grew up in Carencro where
she still resides. Educated locally, Rep. Emerson graduated from Westminster Christian
Academy in Opelousas and received a B.S. from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
She went on to earn an M.B.A. from the University of South Carolina.

Rep. Emerson has been an active Republican since high school, having worked with the
Republican Party of Louisiana and attending the 2008, 2012, and 2016 state and national
conventions. She currently serves as an elected member of the Republican State Central
Committee.

In October 2015, Rep. Emerson was elected to serve as the State Representative for
House District 39, representing northern Lafayette Parish (Carencro, Scott, Ossun,
Vatican) and southern St Landry Parish (Cankton, Opelousas, Arnaudville). She is currently
the youngest member of the Louisiana legislature.

Senator Ronnie Johns

Panelist, The Politics of Redistricting

Senator Ronnie Johns is a well-respected businessman and active community volunteer,
who has represented District 27 in the Louisiana State Senate since 2012. He previously
served as a State Representative from 1995 – 2007. He is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana
University, where he earned a B.S. in Pharmacy. Senator Johns worked as a pharmacist
for several years before opening a State Farm insurance agency in Sulphur in 1982.
He has received numerous awards for his work in the legislature, and has been recognized
repeatedly for business achievements and community involvement. He serves on the Board
of Directors of CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital, the Salvation Army of Lake Charles,
the Friends of Sulphur Police and the Catholic Diocese of Lake Charles Finance Council.

Representative Marcus Hunter

Panelist, The Politics of Redistricting

Rep. Marcus Hunter has served in the Louisiana House of Representative for District
17 since 2011. In this capacity, he serves on various House committees, including
Ways and Means, Insurance, Labor Industrial Relations and Joint Legislative Committee
on Capital Outlay. Rep. Hunter is also a member of the Louisiana Democratic Caucus,
the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus and the Northeast Legislative Louisiana Delegation.
He serves as Chairman of the Louisiana Democratic 5th Congressional District and is
a Member-at-Large for the Ouachita Parish Democratic Executive Committee. In addition,
he is a member of the Ouachita Parish 4th District Bar Association, The Louis Martinet
Legal Society of Northeast Louisiana, The Louisiana State Bar Association and The
American Bar Association.

Rep. Hunter is a former member of the City of Monroe Planning and Zoning Commission
and previously worked for the Fourth District Public Defender’s Office. In 2011 he
was recognized by Legal Aid Services of Northeast Louisiana as an Outstanding Pro
Bono Attorney. In the community, he is involved with the Northeast Louisiana Sickle
Cell Anemia Foundation, HAMPCO and SCORE Senior Center. He is a member of Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Wossman High School’s Alumni Association.

Rep. Hunter earned a B.A. in Sociology from Southern University and A&M College and
a J.D. from Southern University Law Center. He was admitted into the Louisiana Bar
Association and began his law practice at the Hunter and Associates Law Firm along
with his father and brother.

Senator Ed Price

Panelist, The Politics of Redistricting

Ed Price was first elected to office in 1985 when he joined the Ascension Parish School
Board. He served on the school board foe 27 years, the last 12 years as board president.
In 2007, Price was elected to serve as president of the Louisiana School Board Association
and served on the National School Board Association Federal Relations Network. In
2012, Price was sworn inas a member of the Louisiand House of Representative and was a member of the Commerce,
Retirement, and Education committees. During his second term, Price served as vice-chairman
of the Education committee. In April of 2017 Price won a special election to the Louisiana
Senate, where he serves as Vice-Chairman of the Retirement committee, and serves on
the Healthand Welfare, Transportation, and Enviromental Quality Committees.

Representative Julie Stokes

Panelist, Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Reform

Representative Julie Stokes is a Certified Public Accountant, small business owner
and conservative State Representative from Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.

In 2016, she was named one of four “Women of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts of Louisiana
East. She has also been honored as one of New Orleans City Business Magazine’s “Women
of the Year." Rep. Stokes traveled the state of Louisiana with the Committee of 100
in 2015 & 2016 as one of the lead speakers on Tax Reform in Louisiana, earning accolades
from many media outlets such as the New Orleans Advocate, the Baton Rouge Business
Report, and WRKF, all of which praised her as one of the most knowledgeable Louisiana
legislators in the field of Louisiana’s fiscal environment

Rep. Stokes is actively involved with the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and local
economic development activities. In the Legislature, Rep. Stokes is the Chairman of
the Sales Tax Streamlining & Modernization Commission and the Vice Chair of the Legislative
Audit Advisory Committee; she also serves as an interim member of the Joint Legislative
on the Budget and House Appropriations Committees.

Representative Ted James

Panelist, Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Reform

Representative Edward “Ted” James’ passion for leadership is driven by a deeply held
desire to impact the lives of others while transforming the community he simply calls
“his village.” After graduating from the historic McKinley Sr. High School, Rep. James
obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Southern University. He is
a cum laude graduate of the Southern University Law Center. After passing the Louisiana
Bar Exam in 2006, Rep. James dedicated himself to the recovery and rebuilding of Louisiana
in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by joining the office of Governor
Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. As the Governor’s policy advisor on housing and community
development Ted assisted in securing a $25 million investment into the Louisiana Housing
Trust Fund. Ted later served on the Louisiana Commission on Housing and Community
Development.

Rep. James then served as a staff attorney with the Louisiana House of Representatives
drafting legislation. In 2009, Ted was appointed to serve as Special Counsel to the
Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue. His leadership led to an appointment
by Governor Bobby Jindal to serve on the Louisiana Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental
Relations.

Rep. James has a record of dedicated community service through his work with a number
of causes. He serves as a member of the YMCA Capital Area Board of Directors, is a
committee member of BREC, and spends countless hours mentoring students in Baton Rouge
schools.

Representative Tanner Magee

Panelist, Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Reform

Rep. Tanner Magee was elected to the Louisiana State House of Representatives for
Louisiana House District 53, which covers parts of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.
He currently serves on the Civil Law and Procedure, Judiciary, and Natural Resources
and Environment Committees. He is a member of the Acadiana Delegation and the Louisiana
Republican Legislative Delegation.

He received a B.S. in Psychology in 2002 from Louisiana State University, and continued
on there to earn his M.P.A. in 2004. In 2007, he obtained his J.D. from the Louisiana
State University Law Center, where he made the Chancellor’s list and was selected
to the Moot Court Board.

Representative Walt Leger, III

Panelist, Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Reform

Rep. “Walt” J. Leger, III is Speaker Pro Tempore of the Louisiana House of Representatives
and the representative for New Orleans’ District 91, which includes Central City,
Uptown, the Lower Garden District, the Irish Channel, parts of Broadmoor, Gert Town,
and Hollygrove.

As Speaker Pro Tempore, Rep. Leger is respected as a smart leader by his colleagues
on both sides of the aisle. In the legislature, he has served on the powerful Appropriations
Committee, the Criminal Justice Committee, the Education Committee, the Judiciary
Committee, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, the House Executive Committee,
the Juvenile Justice Implementation Commission, the House Committee on Homeland Security,
and the Technology Sub-Committee of the House Executive Committee. Rep. Leger was
recently named to a special Revenue Task Force to study and review Tax Expenditures,
including Tax Credits, Exemptions, and Rebates. He also chairs the Juvenile Justice
Implementation Commission, as well as the Louisiana State Witness Protection Services
Board.

In 2014, Rep. Leger was appointed co-chair of the National Conference of State Legislators'
(NCSL) Health & Human Services Committee. NCSL is a national bipartisan organization
dedicated to improving the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures. He will
serve as co-chair of the committee for a two year term.

Tony Davis

Introduction for keynote, Good Government Matters

Tony Davis is a perpetual problem-solver and cheerleader for his hometown of Natchitoches,
Louisiana. Having led the Chamber of Commerce and now the Natchitoches Community Alliance
Foundation while tackling issues like workforce needs, education equality and advancement
as well as overall economic development has stoked a passion for education, particularly
early childhood education and access. In turn, this passion led Davis to run for a
seat on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) where he now represents
the people of District 4 in northwest Louisiana. Through his work at the Chamber,
he has had the pleasure to be a part of and lead several local, regional and state
boards and currently serves on the Executive Board for the Norwela Council for Boy
Scouts of America. He is a proud 2013 graduate of CABL’s Leadership Louisiana program,
where he made lifelong friends and had the opportunity to learn just how magical Louisiana
is but also how much more amazing it could become with our help. Last, and most importantly,
he is the proud husband of the former Amy Marquart of Crowley and a role model for
two awesome little kids.​